Graphic Novel Review: Cookie & Broccoli Play It Cool by Bob McMahon

Posted on November 11, 2021 at 8:52 am by Gene Ambaum

Cookie & Broccoli Play It Cool by Bob McMahon. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2021. 9780593109090. 76pp.

Cookie, Broccoli, and their friend Garlic want to join the cool crowd. To do that they have to check in with Cucumber to find out if they’re cool. Cookie’s and Garlic’s applications are denied, but then Broccoli does some math magic and gives what Taco and Cupcake and their friends consider the greatest speech in the world, which changes everything.

I feel like there are a lot of kids graphic novels these days about unlikely friends. The reason I loved this one is the cartoony food characters — there’s also Blueberry, Ice Cream Cone, and what I think is a peach — plus the amazing colors and fonts. And it’s silly despite the way it pushes its message, that kindness is cool.